Top 10 breakthrough technologies of 2020 – TechRepublic
Between tiny AI and unhackable internet, this decade's tech trends will revolutionize the business world.
MIT Technology Review unveiled its top 10 breakthrough technology predictions on Wednesday. The trends--which include hype-inducing tech like quantum computing and unhackable internet--are expected to become realities in the next decade, changing the enterprise and world.
SEE: Internet of Things: Progress, risks, and opportunities (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
While many of the trends have a more scientific background, most can also apply to business, said David Rotman editor at MIT Technology Review.
"Even though some of these sound science-y or research-y, all really do have important implications and business impacts. [For example], unhackable internet," Rotman said. "It's early, but we can all see why that would be a big deal.
"Digital money will change how we do commerce; satellite mega constellations will potentially change how we do communications and the price of communications," Rotman added.The methodology behind determining the breakthrough technologies focused on what writers, editors, and journalists have been reporting on in the past year. All of the technologies are still being developed and improved in labs, Rotman said.
The MIT Technology Review outlined the following 10 most exciting technologies being created and deployed in the next 10 years.
One of the most exciting technologies of the bunch, according to Rotman, quantum supremacy indicates that quantum computers are not only becoming a reality, but the functionality is becoming even more advanced.Murmurs of quantum computer development have floated around the enterprise. The technology is able to process massive computational solutions faster than any supercomputer.
While this form of computing hasn't been widely used yet, it will not only be usable by 2030, but possibly reach quantum supremacy, MIT found.
"Quantum supremacy is the point where a quantum computer can do something that a classical conventional computer cannot do or take hundreds of years for a classical computer to do," Rotman said.
The technology is now getting to the point where people can test them in their businesses and try different applications, and will become more popular in the coming years, Rotman said.
Quantum computers are especially useful for massive scheduling or logistical problems, which can be particularly useful in large corporations with many moving parts, he added.
"Satellites have become so small and relatively cheap that people are sending up whole clusters of these satellites," Rotman said. "It's going to have an enormous impact on communication and all the things that we rely on satellites for."
These satellites could be able to cover the entire globe with high-speed internet. Applications of satellite mega-constellation use are currently being tested by companies including SpaceX, OneWeb, Amazon, and Telesat, according to the report.
Another interesting, and surprising, technology in the study concerned tiny AI. The surprising nature of this comes with how quickly AI is growing, Rotman said.
Starting in the present day, AI will become even more functional, independently running on phones and wearables. This ability would prevent devices from needing the cloud to use AI-driven features, Rotman said.
"It's not just a first step, but it would be an important step in speeding up the search for new drugs," Rotman said.
Scientists have used AI to find drug-like compounds with specific desirable characteristics. In the next three to five years, new drugs might be able to be commercialized for a lesser cost, compared to the current $2.5 billion it takes to currently commercialize a new drug, the report found.
Researchers are now able to detect climate change's role in extreme weather conditions. With this discovery, scientists can help people better prepare for severe weather, according to the report.
In less than five years, researchers will find drugs that treat ailments based on the body's natural aging process, the report found. Potentially, diseases including cancer, heart disease and dementia could be treated by slowing age.
Within five years, the internet could be unhackable, the report found.
Researchers are using quantum encryption to try and make an unhackable internet, which is particularly important as data privacy concerns heighten, Rotman said.
Digital money, also known as cryptocurrency, will become more widely used in 2020. However, the rise of this money will also have major impacts on financial privacy, as the need for an intermediary becomes less necessary, according to the report.
Occupying three trends on the list, medicine is proving to potentially be a huge area for innovation. Currently, doctors and researchers are designing novel drugs to treat unique genetic mutations. These specialized drugs could cure some ailments that were previously uncurable, the report found.
Differential privacy is a technique currently being used by the US government collecting data for the 2020 census. The US Census Bureau has issues keeping the data it collects private, but this tactic helps to anonymize the data, a tactic other countries may also adopt, according to the report.
For more, check out Forget quantum supremacy: This quantum-computing milestone could be just as important on ZDNet.
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Top 10 breakthrough technologies of 2020 - TechRepublic
- Cleveland Clinic and IBM Forum Highlights Advancements in AI and Quantum Computing for Healthcare Research - Cleveland Clinic Newsroom - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Atom Computing and Phasecraft Partner on Material Science Algorithms - Quantum Computing Report - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
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- QTREX Awarded Government Grant to Advance Native RF Dielectric Material for Quantum Computing - The Quantum Insider - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- SEC Declares IQM Registration Statement Effective Ahead of SPAC Merger Vote - Quantum Computing Report - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Quantum Computing- Two ETFs that Target this Fast-Growing Group - Yahoo Finance - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
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- Classiq and UC Chile Form Latin Americas First Quantum Pathology Consortium - Quantum Computing Report - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
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- IonQ is the First Pure-Play Quantum Computing Company To Generate Over $100 Million in Revenue. Is the Stock Headed to $100? - Yahoo Finance - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Hitachi and Intel Expand Partnership Across Physical AI, Quantum Computing and Energy Systems - HPCwire - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Room-Temperature Quantum Computing? A Superlattice Breakthrough Could Be Poised to Help Supercharge Information Science - The Debrief - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Quantinuum raises $1.68 billion in IPO that seeks to give quantum computing more street cred - MarketWatch - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
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- Quantum computing stocks tumble ahead of Quantinuum IPO - Seeking Alpha - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- IQM, a Global Leader in Quantum Computing, and Real Asset Acquisition Corp. Announce Upsized USD 146 million PIPE with New Commitment from Ilmarinen -... - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Assessing Whether IonQ (IONQ) Shares Look Overvalued After Recent Quantum Computing Optimism - simplywall.st - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Report: Quantum Computing Could Unlock More Than 100 Million in Value - The Quantum Insider - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- IBM Might Be The First To Commercialize Quantum Computing, But At What Cost? - bgr.com - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- D-Wave Unveils Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Plan: What's Ahead? - The Globe and Mail - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
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- Quantum Computing Has 53 Companies and a $19T Market Cap? - Moomoo - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Quantinuum IPO: QNT stock is listing on the Nasdaq today in a closely watched quantum computing debut - Fast Company - June 5th, 2026 [June 5th, 2026]
- Quantum computing could transform energy grid optimization and security - Tech Xplore - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Quantum Computing: The Next AI Boom? - Yahoo Finance - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Indian Institute of Science and Yaqumo Form Strategic Coalition to Deepen Indo-Japanese Neutral-Atom Quantum Hardware R&D - Quantum Computing Report - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Top Quantum Computing Jobs and Salaries in 2026 - The Quantum Insider - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Quantonation Selects Neutral-Atom Hardware Developer Yaqumo for First Japanese Investment - Quantum Computing Report - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- IonQ Stock (IONQ) Opinions on Quantum Computing Momentum and Acquisition Plans - Quiver Quantitative - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- The U.S. Government Just Invested in These 3 Quantum Computing Stocks. Should Retail Investors Follow Suit? - The Motley Fool - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Quantum Computing Is Approaching Its ChatGPT Moment: New Game by Moth Proves Its Closer than You Expected. - The Quantum Insider - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Are Sending Shockwaves Through Wall Street With This $931 Million Warning - The... - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Quantum research points to future energy and computing technologies - University of California, Riverside - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Beyond a Single Quantum Chip: Why the Future of Quantum Computing is Modular - Quantum Computing Report - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
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- Quantum computing has reached its "fab moment". Who will benefit first? - 36 - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- The U.S. Government Just Bet $2 Billion on 9 Quantum Computing Companies. Here's What It Means for Investors. - Yahoo Finance - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- Healey debuts quantum computing hub at MIT to capture future market - The Boston Globe - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- IBM rallies after committing to spend $10 billion to pursue the holy grail of quantum computing - Sherwood News - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
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- The Conversation Nobody Is Having About Quantum Computing -- and the Stock at the Center of It - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- QuantumCT, UConn, and Yale Launch Industry-Aligned Phase 2 Pilot Projects to Accelerate Applied Research - Quantum Computing Report - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- D-Wave Quantum vs. IonQ: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026? - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- The U.S. Government Is Investing $2 Billion in the Quantum Computing Space, But Did It Miss the Best Stock to Buy? - Yahoo Finance - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- 2 Quantum Computing Stocks That Are Further Along Than Anyone Is Giving Them Credit For - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Forget SpaceX: The Next Red-Hot IPO Is Here and Its a Quantum Computing Stock - Yahoo Finance - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- The U.S. Government Just Bet $2 Billion on 9 Quantum Computing Companies. Here's What It Means for Investors. - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- IBM and federal government in $2B deal for building quantum computing wafers - Westfair Communications - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Quantinuum targets $12.7B valuation in US IPO, betting investors will pay 400x revenue for quantum computing - Crypto Briefing - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- The Conversation Nobody Is Having About Quantum Computing -- and the Stock at the Center of It - AOL.com - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Forget IonQ: This New Quantum Computing IPO Could Be This Year's Dark Horse - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- This Is the Quantum Computing Stock I'd Buy Before Any Other Right Now - The Motley Fool - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- D-Wave Quantum vs. IonQ: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026? - The Globe and Mail - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Biggest Quantum Computing IPO Ever Is Here. Quantinuum Valued at Nearly 13 Billion Gets US Government Investment; Will It Become the Next 10-Bagger? -... - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- This Is the Quantum Computing Stock I'd Buy Before Any Other Right Now - Yahoo Finance - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- D-Wave secures second-year funding for superconducting quantum computing project (QBTS) - Yahoo Finance - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Forget IonQ: This New Quantum Computing IPO Could Be This Year's Dark Horse - AOL.com - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Quantum Computing Is Getting a $2 Billion Boost. Banks See a Growing Cyber Threat. - Barron's - May 22nd, 2026 [May 22nd, 2026]
- US Government Makes $2 Billion Bet on Quantum Computing as Threat to Bitcoin Grows - Yahoo Finance - May 22nd, 2026 [May 22nd, 2026]
- Quantum computing CEOs hope validating government backing proves their technology is no longer speculative - Sherwood News - May 22nd, 2026 [May 22nd, 2026]
- Department of Commerce Announces Letters of Intent With 9 Companies for $2 Billion to Accelerate U.S. Leadership in Quantum Computing - National... - May 22nd, 2026 [May 22nd, 2026]